Adhesive-backed emery board for attachment to personal electronic devices

ABSTRACT

A new and useful adhesive-backed emery board for attachment to personal electronic devices such as cellular phones which comprises an abrasive layer having a top side and bottom side, a bonding layer attached to the bottom side of the abrasive layer, a backing layer attached to the bonding layer, an adhesive layer attached to the backing layer, and a removable release layer attached to the adhesive layer. The invention provides a convenient way for the user to shape, maintain and beautify the fingernails, is easy to install, use, replace, is low-cost to manufacture, and can be manufactured in many shapes, colors and styles. This device is believed to be useful in a variety of settings where the modern person on-the-go desires easy access to and routine maintenance of the fingernails.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is in the technical field of personal hygiene products. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of personal hygiene products, specifically fingernail care. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of adhesive-backed emery boards for attachment to personal electronic devices so as to be usable for the purpose of filing of fingernails, removing corns, and other hygienic processes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the current art emery boards are used to shape and maintain the fingernails as part of a hygienic or beauty regimen. Emery boards can be used to shape and smooth fingernails, as well as eliminate splits, snags or chipping. Buffing or polishing is also sometimes achieved by use of an emery board. Most commonly emery boards comprise a rigid support strip made of wood or other thin material and exhibit at least one abrasive surface like sandpaper.

Ordinarily, electric devices have singular or dedicated uses. For example a cellular phone is purposed for remote and on-the-go telecommunication. In the advent of smart phones, the utility of the cellular phone has increased, but the functionality is still largely relegated to communication and electronic entertainment. The main object of this invention is to increase the utility of personal electronic devices to include personal hygiene uses—specifically on-the-go fingernail treatment and maintenance.

Further objects of this invention include permitting an attachment of hygienic apparatus to personal electronic devices without requiring any modification or redesign of said devices. It is also the object of the present invention to be one that can be manufactured at a very low cost, and still be durable and efficacious. Another object of the present invention still is to create adhesive-backed attachments which can be removed and replaced easily as necessary.

In the applicant's experience, there is a need for an adhesive-backed emery board for attachment to personal electronic devices which embody some of the following advantages: i) can be attached to personal electronic devices, ii) is easy to install, iii) is easy to use, iv) is easy to replace, v) is low-cost to manufacture, vi) provides a convenient way for the user to shape, maintain and beautify the fingernails while on-the-go, and vii) can be manufactured in many shapes, colors and styles. The device according to the present invention is believed to accomplish all of the foregoing objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a new and useful adhesive-backed emery board for attachment to personal electronic devices which provides a convenient way for the user to shape, maintain and beautify the fingernails, is easy to install, use, replace, is low-cost to manufacture, and can be manufactured in many shapes, colors and styles. This device is believed to be useful in a variety of settings where the modern person on-the-go desires easy access to and routine maintenance of the fingernails.

The invention achieves its result by offering an adhesive backed emery board which has an abrasive surface and an adhesive surface, and can be optionally and removably attached to personal electronic devices such as a cell phone. This invention allows the user to file her nails using the emery board attached to the cell phone by drawing the tip of a fingernail along the abrasive surface of the emery board until the fingernail is shaped as desired. This invention essentially amplifies the functionality of personal electronic devices to have hygienic utility.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of one embodiment of an adhesive-backed emery board for attachment to personal electronic devices according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view showing the abrasive layer according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing the release layer according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention showing the removal of the release layer according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention attached to a personal electronic device which is a cellular phone; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the device when in use during the act of filing a fingernail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As described above, the present invention provides a new and useful adhesive-backed emery board for attachment to personal electronic devices and the method of practicing the same. The following description and accompanying drawings disclose at least one version of such a device.

Referring now to the invention in detail, in FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 there is shown an embodiment of an adhesive-backed board for attachment to personal electronic devices shown generally 10 which comprises an abrasive layer 1 having a top side 1 a and bottom side 1 b, wherein the top side 1 a and the bottom side 1 b are generally parallel to each other thereby creating a linear cross-section with flat topography along the abrasive layer 1. A bonding layer 2 is attached to the bottom side 1 b of the abrasive layer 1, wherein the bonding layer 2 is an adhesive. A backing layer 3 is immovably affixed to the bonding layer 2, wherein the backing layer 3 may comprise a plurality of different materials including paper, cloth, wood or plastic. An adhesive layer 4 is attached to the backing layer 3, wherein the adhesive layer 4 comprises a low tack adhesive. A personal electronic device 6 is removably attached to the adhesive layer 4.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the personal electronic device is a cellular phone, tablet computer, handheld electronic controller or computer.

Still referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 6, in an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the invention is an adhesive-backed emery board for attachment to electronic personal devices which comprises an abrasive layer 1 having a top side 1 a and bottom side 1 b. A bonding layer 2 is attached to the bottom side 1 b of the abrasive layer 1. A backing layer 3 is attached to the bonding layer 2. An adhesive layer 4 is attached to the backing layer 3. A removable release layer 5 is attached to the adhesive layer 4, wherein said release layer 5 preserves the tackiness and limits contamination of the adhesive layer 4 while the invention is not attached to a personal electronic device. In at least one embodiment of the present invention the release layer comprises disposable paper.

Still referring to the invention in more detail, the abrasive layer 1 may comprise abrasive particles such as emery powder, flint, garnet, or silicon carbide. These particles can be suspended in a binding matrix, epoxy or glue. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the abrasive layer 1 may comprise sandpaper, emery paper, or emery cloth. Likewise, the backing layer 3 may be produced from a variety of materials such as paper, cloth, wood or plastic.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the abrasive layer 1 comprises a uniform grit density across the length of the invention. Alternately, the abrasive layer 1 may comprise a variable grit density, from rough to fine, across the length of the invention. A buffing surface for polishing a filed fingernail may also be present.

Depending on the intended use, the invention can also exhibit different topographies along the length. This offers at least the advantage of allowing the invention to be used in harder to reach places for example near the nail bed. One way to achieve this objective is by manufacturing the top side 1 a of the abrasive layer 1 to exhibit an arcuate or angular cross-section thereby creating a raised topography along the length of the invention.

It is foreseen that the invention will be manufactured in a variety of shapes to match the surfaces of various electronic devices, or to be decorative. It is also foreseen that the invention can be printed with decorative elements and colors.

In order to file a fingernail utilizing the present invention, the user holds the invention in one hand and removes a removable release layer 5 with another hand to expose an adhesive layer 4. The user then attaches the adhesive-backed emery board by contacting the adhesive layer 4 with a surface on a personal electronic device 6, which can be a cell phone. Once the device is attached to the personal electronic device 6, the user places a fingernail in contact with the abrasive layer 1 of the invention. Thereafter, he proceeds to file the fingernail by implementing a lateral motion along a length of the invention thereby drawing the abrasive layer 1 across the fingernail. This contact and motion abrades the fingernail, thereby removing undesired tissue. This allows the user to shape the nail as desired. He repeats this motion and then stops once the desired fingernail finish is achieved.

The user may also remove and replace the adhesive backed emery board from the personal electronic device 10 as desired.

The previously described versions of the present invention have many advantages, including and without limitation, the properties of being i) a convenient way for the user to shape, maintain and beautify the fingernails while on-the-go, ii) able to be attached to personal electronic devices, iii) easy to install, iv) easy to use, v) easy to replace, vi) low-cost to manufacture, and vii) manufactured in many shapes, colors and styles. The device of the present invention is believed to accomplish all of the foregoing objectives. The invention does not require that all the advantageous features and all the advantages need to be incorporated into every embodiment of the invention.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained therein.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All the features disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. As for “means for” elements, the applicant intends to encompass within the language any structure presently existing or developed in the future that performs the same function. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An adhesive-backed emery board for attachment to personal electronic devices which comprises: a) an abrasive layer having a top side and bottom side, wherein the top side and the bottom side are generally parallel to each other thereby creating a linear cross-section with flat topography along the abrasive layer; b) a bonding layer attached to the bottom side of the abrasive layer, wherein the bonding layer is an adhesive; c) a backing layer which is immovably affixed to the bonding layer, wherein the backing layer may comprise a plurality of different materials including paper, cloth, wood or plastic, d) an adhesive layer attached to the backing layer, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a low tack adhesive; and e) a personal electronic device removably attached to the adhesive layer.
 2. An adhesive-backed emery board for attachment to electronic personal devices which comprises: a) an abrasive layer having a top side and bottom side; b) a bonding layer attached to the bottom side of the abrasive layer; c) a backing layer attached to the bonding layer; d) an adhesive layer attached to the backing layer; and e) a removable release layer attached to the adhesive layer.
 3. The invention as in claim 1 further comprising a removable release layer attached to the backing layer, which preserves the tackiness and limits contamination of the adhesive layer while the invention is not attached to a personal electronic device.
 4. The invention as in claim 1 wherein the personal electronic device is a cellular phone, tablet computer, handheld electronic controller or computer.
 5. The invention of claim 2 where in the abrasive layer comprises abrasive particles such as emery powder, flint, garnet, or silicon carbide.
 6. The invention of claim 2 wherein the backing layer is paper, cloth, wood or plastic.
 7. The invention of claim 2 wherein the abrasive layer comprises a uniform grit density across the length of the invention.
 8. The invention of claim 2 wherein the abrasive layer comprises a variable grit density, from rough to fine, across the length of the invention.
 9. The invention of claim 2 wherein the abrasive layer further comprises a buffing surface for polishing a filed finger nail.
 10. The invention of claim 2, wherein the top side of the abrasive layer exhibits an arcuate cross-section thereby creating a raised topography along the length of the invention.
 11. The invention of claim 2, wherein the release layer is removed to expose the adhesive layer.
 12. The invention of claim 11 further comprising a personal electronic device attached to the adhesive layer.
 13. A method of filing the nails of the hand using an adhesive-backed emery board for attachment to personal electronic devices which comprises: a) holding the invention in one hand and removing a removable release layer with another hand to expose an adhesive layer; b) attaching the invention by contacting the adhesive layer with a surface on a personal electronic device, which can be a cell phone; c) placing a fingernail in contact with the abrasive layer of the invention; d) filing the fingernail by utilizing a lateral motion along the length of the invention thereby drawing the abrasive layer across the fingernail; and e) stopping once the desired fingernail finish is achieved.
 14. The method as in claim 13 further comprising removing the adhesive backed emery board from the personal electronic device.
 15. The invention of claim 2 wherein the adhesive-backed emery board has a perimeter that is cut into a decorative shape.
 16. The invention of claim 2 wherein the adhesive-backed emery board is printed with decorative elements. 